Becoming a music educator was always in the stars for Barbara (London) Pierpoint (BME 鈥�72).听
鈥淚 knew I wanted to be a music teacher since the fourth grade, but playing the oboe influenced everything else,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat fortuitous day in seventh grade when I started playing oboe is what shaped me going forward.鈥�
A Colorado native, Pierpoint grew up in southwest Denver and attended Abraham Lincoln High School where she participated in band. Her mother was the only other musical member of her family, and Pierpoint fondly remembers their taking piano lessons together. But once she was introduced to the oboe, it became her instrument of choice.
Thanks to her teacher鈥攖he late David Abosch, principal oboist of the Denver Symphony Orchestra (subsequently the Colorado Symphony) from 1949 to 1991鈥攈er introduction to CU Boulder soon followed. 鈥淚 had never taken an oboe lesson in my life and then鈥攂oom鈥擨 showed up for lessons with Mr. Abosch and it worked out ideally for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e was on the College of Music faculty at the time, which is why I applied here. I also got a music scholarship. Everything just fell into place.鈥�
Pierpoint joined the symphonic band under the direction of erstwhile Marching Band Director Hugh McMillen. 鈥淗e was an iconic figure,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淭he way he talked, the way he twirled his cigarettes when he smoked 鈥� it all stuck. Behind his back, we鈥檇 make fun of him a little bit鈥攂ut actually he was highly respected and we wanted to do our best for him.鈥�
To complement her oboe studies, Pierpoint expanded her skills across other instruments. 鈥淚 took trumpet and clarinet classes鈥攖hose were easy As for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 also learned violin and cello鈥攁nd to play the string bass, I had to stand on a box because I wasn鈥檛 tall enough!鈥�
Upon graduation, Pierpoint went on to pursue her fourth-grade dream of becoming a music teacher. She brought her education and band knowledge to Westminster Public Schools, where she taught general music and beginning band for 33 years. 鈥淪uccess breeds success,鈥� adds Pierpoint, named Teacher Who Makes a Difference by Adams County School District 50 in 1987. 鈥淚t was the perfect career path for me鈥攏ot only teaching, but teaching music.鈥�
Pierpoint continued her education at the University of Denver where she earned a master's in music education and a certification in the Orff Schulwerk teaching method鈥攁 creative approach to teaching music that involves student-centered classrooms and engagement in activities utilizing singing, speaking, movement and instrument playing. Through this lens, Pierpoint developed her own teaching style.
Since retiring as a public school teacher in 2007, Pierpoint has kept busy as a private oboe teacher. 鈥淚鈥檓 still doing what I love,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the perfect setup for me.鈥�
According to Pierpoint, the heart and soul of a community lie in the arts鈥攁 perspective that inspires her support of CU Boulder Bands. 鈥淚'm so grateful for the education I received that I want to pay it forward,鈥� she explains.听
As for her advice to current students? 鈥淏e serious in your pursuit of an education, but not so serious that you miss all the experiences to be enjoyed along the way.鈥�
